Diego CanasProject Coordinator | Civil Engineer | Planning Engineer| -Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
Yes. With the increasing globalization of companies, teams and projects. We never know the real need to speak another language until one day you need to speak another language. Saving Changes...
Ed Tsyitee JrConsultant | Consultant Tucson, Az, United States
What language are we talking about? Do we mean business language or cultural? For example, if we are working on a marketing project, we should be able to speak at some level marketing language such as SEO, target markets, demographics, etc. Since teams now are global, it isn't possible to multi-fluent. However, it doesn't hurt to study a second language. Saving Changes...
I think that depend of you project
If it is a local project, probably, if you know another language it would be a plus, but dont give you a great advantage over your collegues.
On the other hand, if your project involves multi.languaje speakers, know another languaje can give you an advantage to management your team Saving Changes...
Dominic LawProduct Manager| PCCW GlobalHappy Valley, Hong Kong
Speaking several languages is always an advantage in an multi-cultural project or if you need to work in a different country. For some multi-national companies they would define a company language, usually English, as the official internal language. But if you need to talk to customers, or if you need local contractors, then it is sometimes hard to avoid using the local language. It is an advantage to employ someone local, who not only can communicate in both your and the local language, but also understands your company working culture. Saving Changes...
Rajesh YerunkarEnjoying Life| In TransitionMumbai, Maharastra, India
Multi language is only beneficial to make your stakeholders comfortable. If you can communicate any point in simplest English, that the stakeholder gets it well, I think there is no need for multi language.
The art is only to make the stakeholder understand what you want to out forth.
Also mentioned by Ed, which type of language we are discussing here, business or cultural. In case of business language, I think yes
That is what I think. Saving Changes...
david millerDigital Analyst| 31West Global ServicesCa, United States
Its totally based on our individual business, my point of view fluence in english is enough in any project management. Saving Changes...
It depends on the environment that your project is getting executed. It will give some additional benefits if you know the different/other language that your team/customer speaks.
Other than that if nonevent understands the English and business and business domain it solves the purpose. Saving Changes...
John TiesoAuthor, Lecturer in Business Management| The Catholic University of America, Busch School of Business & EconomicsArlington, Va, United States
I'm going to assume that George really means the language of business, not nationality, and for the very practical reason that few consultants will accept tasks in PM knowing the team will speak a language they probably do not know.
In the case of a national language, it is not just the ability to read and write (I can do that is several languages), but the nuances, the differences in tone, and the understanding of the culture that has to be there with the speaking ability.
Conversely, as I have said in other discussions, no project is exactly like another project, even if intended that way. The more capability you as the PM have to adjust to actual conditions, make use of other methods, techniques and their tools, and adapt to change, the more successful your project can be. Saving Changes...
When we say that effective communication is one of the most important aspect of PM skills, it is definitely an added advantage for the PM. Client may feel more comfortable while talking in native language.
However, it is not true for each PM. Sometimes PM work only on internal or domestic business projects. So, he/she may not need to know other languages. Saving Changes...
Jose CastilloFirst Year MBA Student| North Carolina State UniversityCaracas, Distrito Capital, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
In an even more global context for doing business, the ability to speak in more than one language, as any other knowledge, is always an advantage. English is -and will be- the main way to communicate in the PM environment globally. However, it is getting more common to have a project with people for all over the world. In my 17 years of experience, there was no a single project where the project team speaks the same local languague. For example, rigth now, we are working in a project with Venezuelans, South-Koreans, Japanese and Chinesse people... Saving Changes...
